Method and apparatus for conditioning materials



1 March 13, 1934.

e. D; HARRIS METHOD AND APBARATUS FOR CONDITIONING MATERIALS Original Filed March 4, 1930 nlllwlllllm vi ck lllllllllll' I Patented Mar. 13, 1934 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONDITION- IN G MATERIALS Gordon Don Harris, Sound Beach, Conn., assignor to The Industrial Dryer CorporatiomStamford, (20:111., a corporation of Connecticut Application March 4, 1930, Serial No. 433,158 Renewed August 9, 1933 19 Claims.

This invention relates in general to the conditioning of materials and more particularly has reference to processes and apparatus for conditioning air and other gases which are circulated 5 in contact with the material to be treated.

In many industries in which materials are worked and otherwise treated to form them into finished articles, it has been found that the workability of the material can be advantageously affected by subjecting the material to a humidifying process prior to subjecting it to any manipulation to form it into a finished article.

- Some of the successful processes for changing .the physical characteristics of material from a dry and brittle condition .to a pliable condition, in which the material may be worked to form it into articles of manufacture, are those in which the material is subjected to humidified gas. In these processes which have proved very eflicient for conditioning various materials, the condition of, the air or gas is modified by controlling its temperature and moisture content and then the so-conditioned air is circulated in "contact with the material to be treated. The material undergoing the conditioning treatment is usually placed in a products chamber through which the conditioned air, is circulated, in such a manner that the moisture contained in the conditioned air will be taken up by the material undergoing treatment. It has been found that when the products chamber is provided with a roof, the inner surface of which may be at a lower temperature than that of the conditioned air, moisture will be condensed therefrom, This occurs even when the roof is formed of insulating material. The droplets of moisture which condense on the roof, drop onto the material to be treated. When the operating temperature inside the machine is greater than the room temperature, then the inner surface of the upper wall will be cooler than the temperature of the conditioned air even though insulating material is employed. Wh le the above. circumstance 'does not affect certain materials, nevertheless, other materials are affected in that when finished, they contain spots where the condensed liquid has dropped thereon.

It will be appreciated that in the case of treating materials which should have an unspotted appearance when finished, and where a uniform moisture content is desirable, the above disadvantage is undesirable. The present invention contemplates improvements in the conditioning processes and apparatus which will avoid the disadvantageous spotting or non-uniform moistening of the material discussed above.

ing thereon.

Yet another object of this invention is to devise methods and apparatus for treating materials in which the air is conditioned in various manners and in which the moisture content of the conditioned air is prevented from condensing on surfaces within the chamber containing the material to be treated, by effecting evaporation of the moisture from the surface as it condenses thereon.

Still another object of this invention is to devise an apparatus for conditioning materials provided with a products chamber, the upper wall of which is formed of material capable of absorbing moisture condensed from the conditioned air on the wall and preventing it from dripping onto the material to be treated.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for treating materials in which the material is subjected to conditioned air within the chamber, the interior upper wall of which is formed of a substance which will prevent droplets of moisture forming thereon and which is in contact with a gas having a lower moisture content so that moisture is evaporated from the roof, and dripping onto the material and spotting the same is prevented.

With these and other objects in view, which may be incident to my improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements comprising my invention may be varied in construction, proportions and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In accordance with the present invention, material is treated by subjecting it to a conditioned gas. The gas may be conditioned in accordance with any of a number of various processes and after conditioning, is passed through a chamber in contact with the material to be treated. In order to prevent spotting of the material undergoing treatment due to condensed liquids falling thereon, the upper wall of the chamber containing the material to be treated, is formed of substances which will prevent moisture collecting in droplet form on the interior surface of the upper wall and/or prevent moisture from falling onto the material undergoing treatment. The material forming the upper wall of the treating chamber may be of such a nature as to absorb and retain the moisture that would condense on the surface and thereby prevent it from falling on the material undergoing treatment and spotting the same. In order to prevent the moisture absorbed from dropping into the products chamber, it is removed from the roofing material by evaporation.

. It will be appreciated that the present invention may be applied to various types of apparatus for treating various materials by means of conditioned gas.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown, in the accompanying drawing, means for carrying the same into practical effect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a diagrammatical representation of a material conditioning apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detailed view showing the manner in which the roofing material is attached to the roof frame.

In the drawing, I have shown by way of illustration, an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention for treating materials.

The structure as shown in the drawing, com- .11, 12 and 13.

prises a chamber 2 having side walls 3 and end walls 4. A tank structure 5 constitutes the bottom of the chamber and is adapted to contain a body of water or other liquid, the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth. The roof 6 of the chamber is of a particular construction, a description of which will be found further on in the specification.

Chamber 2 is divided by end partitions 7 and 8 which extend between the side wallet, and by the partition or false floor Q into a products comartnient iii and gas conditioning compartments Partition '2 is provided with a plurality of apertures through which the conditioning gas flows in passing from the products compartment or chamber 10 to the conditioning compartments or chambers. Doors (not shown) of any type may be placed in either of the walls 3 to permit access to the products compartment. A suitable gas forcing fan 14 is positioned in an opening in the partition 8, through which the fan or blower 14 forces a stream of conditioned gas into the products compartment. Fan 14 is carg ried by a shaft 15 which is journaled in suitable bearings supported by the bracket .16. A pulley l? is fixed on shaft 15 by means of which power transmitted through belt 18 is applied to shaft 15.

Other means for rotating the gas forcing fan are within the concept of the present invention and it is not intended that it be limited to the showing in the drawing.

In order to insure the safety of workmen enter-. ing the products compartment for loading and unloading the same, a suitable guard 19, supported by brackets, is positioned to prevent accidental contact with the blades of the fan 14.

The guard may be in the form of a screen or grating such as is commonly used for such purposes.

A body of liquid 21 is maintained in the tank 5 for humidifying the gas as it flows through chamber or compartment 12. Water or other suitable liquid is supplied to the tank through an automatically controlled valve (not shown) as the liquid is evaporated, to maintain the level up to a predetermined point. An overflow device (also not shown) may be provided fbr preventing the level exceeding a predetermined point.

Positioned in the tank 5 are heating elements 20 which are adapted to be submerged in the liquid contained in the tank to heat and vaporize the liquid. These heating elements may be in the form of tubes through which heating media are passed or electrical heating units. The number and the size of these elements will depend upon the size of the treating apparatus and the condi tions of use. I

Heating elements 25 may be operated either to constantly heat the liquid in tank 5 so as to maintain a constant rate of evaporation or to in termittently heat in any desired manner.

In operating, material to be treated is placed in the products compartment 10 and the fan or blower 14 rotated to create a circulation of gas through the several compartments. The gas is withdrawn from compartment 10 and passes through compartments or ducts 11, 12 and 1'5 to the low pressure side of the fan, from which it is forced back into the compartment is. in passing over the heated liquid in compartment 12, vapor arising from the liquid diffuses into the gas so as to substantially saturate the same. The moisture contained in the gas is absorbed by the material in chamber i0.

As hereinbefore pointed out, when the roof of the products chamber is formed of substances such as metal or common non-adsorptive building materials, moisture is condensed on the surface thereof, and after collecting in globules, drips onto the articles or material being treated, thereby spotting or increasing the moisture content be yond a desired point so as to render the moisture content non-uniform.

The present invention avoids the disadvantage of condensed moisture dropping on the material being treated, by preventing the formation of droplets or globules of moisture on the under sur face of the roof. One method of eliminating the formation of condensate droplets on the under surface of the roof is to effect the evaporation of moisture from the roof as it is condensed thereon.

This procedure may be effectedby forming the roof of material which will absorb and evaporate any moisture condensing thereon. The other side of the material may be subjected to an atmosphere which will take up moisture from the adsorbent material. I have found that materials such as felt serve adequately for the purpose and that by merely exposing the outside of the roof to normal room atmosphere, moisture is evaporated at a sumcient rate to prevent condensation collecting on the underside of the roof.

I lhder actual operating conditions, it has been found that the rate of evaporation when using one layer of material such as felt was greater than needed. This may be remedied by forming the roof of two spaced layers of felt or other suitable material.

As shown in the drawing, the roof may consist of a frame 22 braced in any desired manner. On each side of the frame 22 is secured a layer of material 23, such as felt, which will absorb mois;

or other material is preferably placed on the apparatus so that all of the roof exposed in the products compartment will be capable of absorb? ing moisture condensed thereon. As shown in the drawing, the frame 22 with the material attachedthereto is placed on the upper edges of the side walls and partitions. It will be noted that the portion of the roof exposed to the products chamber is formed of the porous absorbing material.

After the frame 22 and the attached material 23 is positioned on top of the treating apparatus, a cover or finishing plate 24, formed of metal or any other suitable material may be arranged over the frame, to provide a platform for the motor, etc. 3

It may befound to be advantageous to make use of the evaporating gas which of necessity has a relatively high moisture content. This gas may be employed for humidifying purposes other than treating the material in'the products chamber, or the gas used for evaporating moisture from the roof may be introduced into the prod ucts chamber either with the moisture taken from the roof or with further humidification. In one method, the gas after passing in contact with the roof and evaporating moisture therefrom, may be mixed with another stream of gas and both introduced after conditioning into the products chamber.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the present invention. provides a novel method and apparatus for preventing the collection of globules or drops of moisture on the roof of a chamber in which material is being conditioned by a gas having a relativelyhigh moisture content. 'By avoiding the formation of the globules of moisture on the roof, the disadvantage of spotting or effecting a non-uniform moistening of the material will be eliminated.-

While in the specification, mention has been made-of the use of felt as the material of which the roof is constructed, I wish it to be clearly understood that any material capable of absorbing moisture condensed thereon and which will give up the-absorbed moisture to a gas may be employed. I also wish it to be clearly understood that the present invention is applicable to all types of conditioning apparatus wherein the treating gas has a moisture content which will precipitate on surfaces in contact with the gas and to other arts wherein the collection of globules of liquid on surfaces of containers is objectionable.

In the description, specific reference has been made to the roof of treating chambers, but it is to be clearly understood that the present invention is applicable to other surfaces in a chamber containing a moisture carrying gas.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth, by way of illustration, as it 'is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without de-- parting from the spirit of the invention, ,or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. An apparatus for conditioning material comprising a chamber for the material to be treated adapted to contain a conditioned gas, said chamber having a roof the entire exposed portion of which is formed of material adapted to absorb moisture condensed on the last mentioned material, the upper portion of said roof being exposed to the exterior atmosphere.

2. An, apparatus for conditioning material comprising a chamber for the material to be treated adapted to contain a conditioned gas, and a roof for said chamber formed exclusively of felt to prevent the collection of moisture on the interior surface of the roof, the upper portion of said roof being exposed to the exterior atmosphere.

3. An apparatus for treating material comprising 8. products chamber, an air conditioning chamber, a body of water within said conditioning chamber over which the air is circulated to humidify the same, means in said air conditioning chamber for heating the water, means for forcing the humidified air into the products chamber said products chamber having a roof formed entirely of absorbent material the outer surface of which is exposed to the atmosphere for preventing the formation of globules of moisture thereon.

4. An apparatus for conditioning materials comprising a products chamber, an air conditioning chamber, a body of water within said conditioning chamber, means in said air conditioning chamber for heating the water, means for forcing the moisture saturated air through said products chamber and means constituting the roof of the products chamber for preventing the formation of globules of condensed moisture thereon, said roof means comprising moisture absorbing material, the exterior of which is exposed to an evaporating atmosphere.

5. An apparatus for conditioning materials comprising a products chamber and an air con ditioning chamber, a body of Water in said air conditioning chamber, means for heating said body of water to humidity the air passing through the conditioning chamber, means for forcing conditioned air through the products chamber, the upper wall of the products chamber being formed of a plurality of spaced layers of porous material the outermost layer of porous material being in contact with the exterior atmosphere.

6. A conditioning apparatus comprising a products chamber and .a gas conditioning chamber, means in the gas conditioning chamber for humidifying the air, means for circulating the air through the products chamber and the conditioning chamber, and a roof for the products chamber constructed solely of. material for absorbing what moisture is condensed thereon to prevent dripping of moisture into the products chamber the outer surface of the roof being in contact with an atmosphere capable of absorbing moisture therefrom.

7.=An apparatus for treating material comprising a closed chamber, a porous roof on said chamber, means for introducing a humidified gas to said chamber and for exhausting gas from the chamber the outer surface of the roof being exposed to a drying gas for evaporating moisture from the porous roof, and means for restricting the rate of evaporation of moisture from said roof.

8. An apparatus for moistening materials comprising a closed chamber, means for circulating a moisture containing gas through said chamber, a porous roof for said chamber, said roof being formed of a frame on each side of which is secured a layer of absorbent material adapted to absorb any moisture contacting therewith in the outer layer of absorbent material being in con--' tact with an evaporating atmosphere.

9. An apparatus for moistening material comprising a closed chamber, means for circulating a moisture containing gas through said chamber, a porous roof for said chamber, said roof being formed of a frame on each side of which is secured a layer of felt adapted to absorb any moisture contacting therewith, the outer layer of absorbent material being in contact with an evaporating atmosphere.

10. A method of treating material comprising subjecting the material to a humidified gas in a chamber having a porous roof, passing a gas in contact with the exterior of' the roof to evaporate moisture from the roof and passing the evaporating gas thus humidified by contact with said roof into contact with material to treat the same.

ll. A method of treating material comprising subjecting'tlr'e*material to a humidifiedgas in a chamber having a porous roof, passing a gas in contact with the exterior of the roof to evaporate moisture from the roof and passing the evaporating gas to a conditioning chamber and subsequently introducing it into the material treating chamber".

12. A method of .conditioning material comprising humidifying a stream of gas, passing the gas into a material containing chamber having a porous roof; passing'a second stream of gas into contact with the exterior of the roof to evaporate moisture deposited on the interior thereof and introducing said second stream of gas into said first stream of gas.

13. An apparatus for treating material comprising a closed chamber, a porous roof on said chamber, means for introducing a humidified gas to said chamber and for exhausting gas from the chamber, and a. layer of porous material spaced from the porous roof on the exterior thereof to restrict the evaporizationof moisture from the roof by a gas an the exterior thereof. V

14. A method of effecting the assimilation of moisture in materials without spotting and W8, ter marking the same comprising humidifying a gas, and passing the humidified gas in contact with the material in a chamber having a porous merger roof and maintaining an evaporating mediumin contact with the outer surface of the Porous roof.

15. A method of efiecting the assimilation of of the roofto evaporate moisture absorbed there-= by, and passing the evaporating gas in contact with material to be humidified.

17. An apparatus for condition'ng materiai' comprising a chamber, a vertical partition extending across the chamber adjacent each end thereof and extendingto a point spaced from the bottom thereof, a horizontal partition extending across the chamber and connected to the free ends of the vertical partitions, a water tank be neath said hor'zontal partition, means for circulating a gas in the chamber under the horizontai partition and through the compartment defined by the vertical andhorizontal partitions, the upper wall of the compartment being formed of por ous material to absorb moisture contacting therewith.

18. An apparatus for conditioning materials comprising a chamber, a tank in the lower portion thereof containing a body of water, a horizontal baffle positioned above the tank and spaced from the ends of said chamber, means for circulating a gas cyclically over and under said baide, the roof of said chamber beng formed of porous material to absorb moisture separating out of the gas on the roof.

19. An apparatus for treating materials with a humidified gas comprising a chamber having a roof formed entirely of porous material adapted to absorb moisture from a humidifying gas conta'ned in said chamber, the outer surface of said roof being exposed to a body of gas capable of absorbing moisture from said roof, and a layer of porous material separating said body of gas from the atmosphere to restrict the evaporation of moisture from said roof to the atmosphere.

GORDON DON HARRIS, 

